
LESSONS ON SECOND EPISTLE OF PETER.
27
8.
Relate in brief the circumstances of
Balaam's connection with the children of
Israel.• See Numbers, chapters 22, 23, 24.
9.
What is said of the instability of such
ones, and of their final end ? 2 Peter 2 :17;
Jude 12, 13.
Jo. By what means do they allure souls to
destruction ? 2 Peter 2 : 18.
1. What do they promise those who follow
them ? Verse 19.
12.
Yet into what bondage do they bring
their dupes ? John 8 : 34•
13.
To what are people made subject
through fear of death? Heb. 2 : 14, 15.
i4. What is it that causes death and the
fear of it ? Rom. 5 :12.
15.
Then what is it that bringa men into
bondage?
16.
Who alone can give freedom? Ps.
102 : 19, 20; Isa. 61 : I.
27. Where alone is true liberty found?
Ps. 119 :45; John 8 :32.
18.
What profit is it to a man to be freed
from the pollutions of the world, if he after-
wards returns to them ? 2 Peter 2 : 20, 21.
19.
Then what should be done by each one
who has come to the knowledge of Christ ?
2 Peter r : r o.
NOTES.
" THEY are not afraid to speak of evil
dignities." The dignities, or, more literally,
glories, here referred to are doubtless super-
natural powers, whether good or bad. The
Syriac has it, " They shudder not with awe
while they blaspheme." The meaning evi-
dently is that these presumptuous, licentious
teachers of what they claim is religion, have
no regard for authority. This is shown by
the first part of the verse, where it is said
that they "despise government." There is no
special class of people to whom the'specifica-
tions of this chapter will apply, except Spirit-
ualists. Not that all Spiritualists are actually
•
openly immoral; but there is not one who
does not hold to doctrines that naturally lead
to immorality. They teach that man is him-
self a part of God, and so is amenable to no
power but himself; that he is a law to him-
self, and is his own judge. Now it makes
no difference how much men prate about
culture, refinement, elevation, and morality,
when they shut themselves off from the only
Source of morality. When men teach 'that
the impulses of their own natures are the
only, law to be followed, they must eventually
land in the pit of corruption.
BUT when men despise the government of
God, it is but a step to the despising of all
human authority. Indeed, when men do not
regard the claims of God, whatever obedience
they render to human laws is due solely to
fear of immediate punishment. In the Bible,
honor to earthly kings is placed next to the fear
of God. Says Peter, " Fear God. Honor
the king." r Peter 2 : i7. And the command-
ment to ancient Israel was: "Thou shalt not
revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people."
Ex. 22 : 28, Revised Version. It is worthy of
note that most Spiritualists are open sympathiz-
ers with anarchy. Respect for authority is the
prime factor in true religion. The man who is
not afraid to speak evil of those who are in au-
thority, who rails at those who are in official
position, whether in Heaven, or in earthly
Governments, is a dangerous man. He
may
not do any great evil, because. of lack of op-
portunity; but once let him have an opportu-
nity, without the fear of physical punishment
to deter him, and there is nothing to restrain
him from going to the greatest lengths. It is
a bad sign to see a man railing at even a
wicked ruler. When Peter wrote, " Honor
the king," and Paul wrote, " Let every soul
be subject unto the higher powers" (Rom.
13 : t), wicked kings were reigning. But they
occupied the place of authority, and their
official position was to be respected, however
wicked they might be.
SAYS the apostle: " They allure through the
lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness,
those that were clean escaped from them who
live in error." A man always falls, if he does
fall,. in the direction toward which he leans.
Says Christ: " From within, out of the heart
of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, for-
nications, murders, thefts, covetousness,
wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness," etc. Mark
7 : 21, 22. Now with these propensities ex-
isting naturally in the heart, it inevitably fol-
lows that when a man heeds th'e words of
those who " despise government," he will
fall to the lowest depths of vice.
So the apostle continues: " While they
promise them liberty, they themselves are the
servants of corruption; for of whom a man is
overcome, of the same • is he brought in
bondage." These false teachers, and their
name nowadays is legion, talk a great deal